Owning a thriving vintage reselling business means offering quality pieces. Every vintage reseller wants to be known as the place for sustainable, timeless items.
So, the question is - Where do vintage resellers get their stock?
Vintage resellers must constantly scout, buy, and renew their collections.
If they want to become and remain successful, they must use different strategies. This includes a mix of traditional hunting techniques and modern digital strategies.
Thrift stores, wholesale vendors, online marketplaces, and yard sales are just a few examples. If you want more ideas on where to find vintage clothing for your reselling business, keep reading.
Where Do Vintage Resellers Get Their Stock?
To become a vintage reseller, you need to acquire high-quality vintage items.
Style-conscious shoppers aren't only interested in ethical consumption. They also want to find hidden gems no one else has.
(You can order this item on the Aus Vintage Wholesale online shop)
There is no need to worry. If you're new to the vintage market, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Here are some sources you can use to get your vintage stock:
- Thrift stores
- Estate sales and yard sales
- Flea markets
- Vintage wholesalers
- Auctions
- Online marketplaces
- Abroad sources
- Friends and family
Thrift Stores
The best place to start is thrift stores - one of the most rewarding and cost-effective ways to build your reselling business.
Thrifting has become a worldwide phenomenon for many environmental and ethical reasons. There's also the prospect of finding a beautiful vintage piece that's still in pristine condition.
Thrift stores receive new merchandise all the time. The possibilities of finding cool, unique pieces are endless.
It's also convenient because you can find different thrift stores in every major city.
For vintage resellers, thrift stores are ideal because of their low prices and wide variety of items.
But just like with any second-hand item, you never know what degree of quality to expect. Some items will be in better condition than others.
It's important to carefully inspect each piece for any damage, such as stains, tears, or missing buttons.
Shopping at thrift stores also means a lot of competition. Just like you, many shoppers come there to search for the best pieces.
If you can, visit your local thrift stores a few times a week. That way, you can increase your chances of finding good items before others do.
Estate Sales and Yard Sales
Your next stop should be estate and yard sales. Both of these options can be great sources for vintage items.
Estate sales can be particularly lucrative for finding rare and high-quality vintage items. These sales often include items from entire households.
If you want one-of-a-kind items, an estate sale is one of your best chances of finding them.
Yard sales are smaller. While they can include vintage items, the quantity and quality are usually lower compared to estate sales.
But you can still find hidden gems, especially if the seller has held onto older clothing or accessories.
Yard sales are often great for finding quirky or unique items at very low prices.
Items at estate sales are usually priced higher. Professional estate sale companies often manage them. So, they carefully price those items based on their market value.
But it's still possible to find good vintage items at fair prices. If you go during the final days of the sale, you might find items at a discount.
Flea Markets
Flea markets can be gold mines for vintage clothing.
These markets often feature independent traders who have sourced items from various vintage and antique markets.
Vendors at flea markets often sell second-hand and vintage goods, making them a popular spot for resellers.
If you're looking for low-priced items, many vendors are willing to negotiate. Vendors often expect buyers to haggle, which can lead to excellent deals if you're a skilled negotiator.
Flea markets can also be a good opportunity for networking, which is very important for vintage resellers.
Many flea market sellers are regulars, often appearing at the same markets week after week.
As a vintage reseller, building a good relationship with these vendors can lead to exclusive deals. You can also get early access to new stock.
Some vendors may even alert you when they come across vintage clothing that fits your niche. This can save you a lot of time and effort in sourcing.
Vintage Wholesalers
You can also buy vintage clothes for your reselling business from wholesale vendors.
Buying from wholesale vendors is a different process than what we've discussed so far. This applies to:
- The scale of operations
- Customer base
- Pricing structure
- Sourcing methods
Wholesalers typically deal in much larger quantities of vintage items, often buying and selling in bulk.
They also primarily supply vintage clothing to retailers and smaller businesses, so they're ideal for vintage resellers.
Wholesale vendors offer lower per-item prices. This pricing structure is based on bulk purchasing and selling.
But where do vintage wholesalers get their stock?
Wholesalers often source their stock from thrift store cast-offs, overseas rag houses, donations, and other bulk suppliers.
They can provide a consistent and bulk supply of vintage items.
If you're looking for a reliable vintage wholesale vendor, Aus Vintage Wholesale offers a wide variety of vintage clothes.
We source all our vintage items from various wholesalers worldwide. All our items originate from the US or Europe.
(You can order this item on the Aus Vintage Wholesale online shop)
These are some of the brands Aus Vintage Wholesale offers:
- Adidas
- Nike
- Reebok
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Lacoste
- The North Face
- Carhartt
- Dickies
- Ralph Lauren
- Nautica
- Puma
- Guess
- Levi's
- Champion
Aus Vintage Wholesale is constantly adding new vintage items to its inventory, and new product categories will be added along the way.
Auctions
Vintage resellers can also source vintage items from auctions.
It can be an excellent way to acquire rare, high-quality pieces that may not be easily found through other channels.
You can find vintage pieces at different types of auctions, including:
- Estate auctions
- Specialised vintage or fashion auctions
- Antique auctions
When a person passes away, their belongings are often sold off through an estate auction. These can be an incredible source of vintage clothing, accessories, and even textiles.
Some auction houses, both online and offline, specialise in vintage clothing and accessories.
These auctions typically feature highly sought-after pieces from specific designers, eras, or categories. For example, vintage couture, retro streetwear, or mid-century modern fashion.
Antique auctions sometimes include vintage clothing as part of the broader selection of antiques, collectibles, and household items.
For resellers, these can be a good place to find older, high-value vintage items, especially from early 20th-century fashion.
Online Marketplaces
You can also use online marketplaces to buy vintage items. The most popular ones include:
- eBay
One of the largest global platforms for buying and selling vintage items. It's known for auctions, but many sellers offer fixed prices, too. It has a huge selection, from affordable pieces to rare, high-end vintage.
- Etsy
A marketplace focused on handmade and vintage goods. Etsy is ideal for finding curated vintage collections, especially from independent sellers. Many vintage sellers offer wholesale lots or bulk purchases.
- Facebook Marketplace
Local sellers often list vintage items on Facebook Marketplace. You can find good deals without the added costs of shipping.
- Poshmark
A U.S.-based platform with an Australian presence. It offers a wide variety of clothing, including vintage items. It's user-friendly and allows for negotiation. Look for closet clear-outs or bundle deals from sellers with vintage items.
- Depop
Popular among younger generations, Depop offers a mix of vintage and modern second-hand clothing. Similar to Poshmark, you should search for sellers offering discounts on bundles of vintage pieces.
You can also use this popular social media app. Follow vintage sellers and watch for wholesale opportunities or bulk sales. Make sure to engage with sellers to build relationships.
Abroad Sources
Another way to get vintage items for your business is to source abroad.
This involves sourcing vintage clothing from countries where secondhand clothing is exported and graded into bales.
This method requires significant effort, but it can lead to high-quality items.
Sourcing vintage items from abroad can open up a wider range of unique and rare pieces for your vintage reselling business.
It helps if you're looking for items from specific regions, eras, or designers that may be scarce in your local market.
But sourcing internationally comes with its own set of challenges. This includes shipping costs, customs, and ensuring authenticity.
If you're new to the vintage reselling business, it's best to stick to local sources. When you get the hang of it, you can expand your network overseas.
Friends and Family
When all else fails, you can turn to your friends and family.
While it's unlikely you will find a lot of vintage pieces, you never know. You can end up stumbling on a few hidden gems.
You can even get those clothes for free or a lower price.
But this should only be considered a temporary solution. The faster you find a reliable source of inventory, the better.
Finding the Right Pieces for Your Vintage Reselling Business
Sourcing vintage items for your reselling business is an exciting process. But it requires a thoughtful and strategic approach.
There are many sourcing options to choose from. This includes local thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, international auctions, online marketplaces, and more.
Each option offers unique opportunities to find one-of-a-kind pieces that can make your inventory that much better.
A safe and reliable option is to shop from a vintage wholesaler like Aus Vintage Wholesale.
(You can order this item on the Aus Vintage Wholesale online shop)
Our product price points are designed to guarantee our customers' strong profits when they resell. We offer high-quality vintage pieces for different Australian and international businesses.
Contact us if you want to know more.
